Chapter 79 (1/2)

Chapter 79: Chapter 8 Crossroads-2

After wandering for 30 minutes, the girls walked outside of Central and reached the edge of the neutral zone. There weren't any signs or borders that marked the area, however, so they did not know where exactly they were.

People were watching them. Young and pretty girls like them were worth money. They waited for Dor and Li to take a few more steps. And it was when the two girls stepped over the boundary of the neutral zone that they heard the words, ”You shouldn't go that way.”

As the people watching Dor and Li waited with bated breath, a man stepped in front of them and blocked their way. His hair was black as ink and came down to his waist, and he was quite good looking.

”This is the end of the neutral zone,” the man told them as he leaned against a crumbling building. Dor and Li realized that they were one step away from leaving safety.

”Look there.”

The man pointed somewhere into the distance. Following his finger, Li made eye contact with the greedy eyes of those who had been watching them and jumped in surprise.

”You guys were in danger.”

”Thank—thank you.”

Li bowed gratefully. Dor looked at the man confusedly and bowed also. They followed the man and walked back into the neutral zone, where they introduced themselves to him.

”Li and Dor? What pretty names. Oh, that's right. I have something good to show you.”

The man searched his pockets and pulled out two large, colorful lollipops. Their sweet scent made Li and Dor drool.

”Here, take them.”

The man held one in each hand and gave them to them. The two girls hesitated a bit, but the man lightly prodded them on to take it. His pumpkin-colored pupils looked kind.

”My brother and Rabbit said we shouldn't receive things from strangers…” Dor mumbled, unable to take her eyes off the lollipop. The man's shoulders drooped. He looked so disappointed that Li, not wanting to hurt him, took the lollipop from him, and Dor's hand quickly followed. Seeing this, the man smiled sweetly.

The lollipop was shaped like the horn of a ram and was as big as their hand. The moment they tore off the clear wrapper, its smell tickled their noses and spread sweetness through their senses. Li, who hadn't had any sweets since she arrived in Wonderland, and Dor, who had had snacks only once a month, put the lollipops in their mouths as if in a trance.

The lollipop was so sweet that it numbed their tongue. Li took a couple of licks but got sick of it and placed it back in its wrapper, but Dor bit through the whole thing and chewed on it delightfully.

”Is it good?” the man asked. Dor and Li nodded, smiling brightly. They had been walking for five minutes when the man grabbed their shoulders and pulled them into the shadows of a building.

”Shh.”

Li was about to say something when he blocked her mouth and warned them to be quiet. A little later, sinister-looking men passed the path they had been walking. Dor whispered to the man.

”Are they scary people?”

”They are scary people,” the man whispered back. The scene in front of her looked like an uncle playing with his niece, and Li had to stop herself from bursting out laughing.

It was then Li's vision started to blur. She shook her head to try to get rid of the dizziness and saw that Dor was already falling asleep leaning on a wall a few steps in front of her.

She wanted to call out to the man standing next to Dor but realized that she had not heard his name. Anxiety started to creep into her heart.

”Do—r…!”

Li tried to walk toward Dor, but her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the floor. The man approached her. Li's eyes widened as she saw the manic happiness in his glistening eyes.